Do Sox really want to risk Peavy's future?

As of Thursday afternoon, Jake Peavy's elbow was too swollen and sore to play a simple game of catch.

That's right. He couldn't play catch.

And you're going to let him start a major league game this month?

It makes no sense.

There's about a 1 percent chance Peavy will be major league ready any time in the next four weeks, at least by Jake Peavy standards.

That doesn't mean the White Sox won't try to pitch him, but if they do they won't be getting the real Peavy.

"I don't know what I'll be like when I get out there," Peavy said at Wrigley Field Thursday. "It's a long road back to where I was before I hurt my ankle."

That's Peavy's way of saying he's a very long way away, and the Sox need to recognize that and do the right thing.

They need to shut Peavy down for the year.

Even before his elbow took a line drive during a minor league rehab start, Peavy was far from his usual self.

He was about two weeks into what is normally a six-week, spring training regimen. He still had weakness in his ankle, and his arm was not nearly as strong as it normally is when he starts a regular season game.

But he's trying to help his new team by getting back to the majors as fast as he can, so had he not been hit in the elbow, he would have started last weekend in New York, and he would have been taking the mound at much less than full strength.

Maybe a week ago they could still justify the gamble, with the Sox still somewhat in the race, but now add in the severe elbow bruise, the pain, swelling and fluid, and even if the Sox get back in it, you have to ask, is the risk worth it?

Peavy will try to play catch Friday, even though he still has "shooting pain" in his elbow.

Why?

Even if that goes well, he's a month away from being where he ought to be.

Problem is, those trying to get him on the mound quickly have an interest in winning games immediately.

That's not a criticism of Ozzie Guillen, Don Cooper or the training staff. It's the job of all of the above to win today. They get paid to win today. They keep their jobs if they win today.

They're not supposed to worry about next year or two years from now.

To his credit, Peavy wants to be on the mound winning today, but even he doesn't know how to proceed.

"No one is more frustrated than I am," Peavy said. "I'm close but far. Close to returning, but far from where I used to be."

I had a long talk with him in the dugout before Thursday's game and it's not what Peavy said that was disturbing.

It's all he didn't say.

What he won't say is that he's healthy.

What he won't say is that he ought to be throwing.

What he won't say is that the Sox ought to pitch him this year.

But you get the feeling he knows this is all quite dangerous.

Still, Peavy is going to do all he can to get out there, and the last thing he wants is for his new team to think he can't handle pain, or that he won't pitch hurt.

That would be antithesis of the real Peavy, who has gotten himself into trouble in the past by pitching through injuries that should have put him on the shelf.

Peavy's as brave as they come, a throwback pitcher for the ages, and the Sox are lucky to have him.

But brave is bad here. This is Peavy's elbow and shoulder we're talking about, and those are very expensive body parts, so someone's got to be smart about this.

And that probably falls in the lap of GM Kenny Williams.

He's the one who invested $58 million of Jerry Reinsdorf's money in an ace for the next three or four years, and he might have to be the one who stops this before something bad happens.

It would be insane for Peavy to go out when he's not ready to pitch, while he's still got a bad elbow and ankle.

You don't want him hurting his arm while trying to compensate for injury, and maybe overthrow while attempting to show his new teammates how good he is when he's not ready to let loose.

In Peavy, the Sox have an ace, a true No. 1 starter, a Cy Young Award winner, for at least the next three years.

Is it worth risking all that for a start or two in September, in games that probably won't mean a thing?